INTIMACY

One of the most difficult of temptations is lust.  It is a spiritual force that seems basic in one way or another to just about all our temptations.  As long as ”What About Me.” is alive and doing well in our lives, lust will be a big fight whether physical or material.  For me, I find if I remember to pray a Jesus prayer over a thing or person at the time of the attack. I can have an immediate victory.

Sleeping with the wrong person can leave emotional wounds that linger far beyond the physical act. When intimacy is shared with someone who doesn’t truly value or respect you, it often results in regret, confusion, a painful sense of emptiness and perhaps worse.  For those who form emotional bonds through physical connection, the fallout can be especially intense. What began as a fleeting moment of pleasure can spiral into self-doubt and damage one’s sense of self-worth, making it difficult to move on.  These emotional consequences often spill into social life. If the person is already in a relationship, it can lead to broken trust, gossip, and damaged friendships. Even in casual situations, mismatched expectations—one seeking love, the other only sex—can result in hurt and resentment.  Physical health risks are another serious concern. Unprotected sex increases the risk of STD’s (some incurable) and unplanned pregnancies. Even with precautions, accidents happen, and the resulting stress can be overwhelming, especially without support.

Over time, repeated experiences with the wrong partners can reshape how someone views intimacy. It may lead to trust issues, emotional distance, or using sex as a substitute for deeper connection—creating a cycle that’s hard to break.  This emotional pattern can limit future relationships and lead to long-term dissatisfaction. Recognizing these patterns is the first step toward healing.  Ultimately, setting boundaries and being intentional with intimacy protects both your heart and well-being. Knowing your worth and choosing partners who respect and align with your values is key to emotional growth and genuine connection.

This is why intimacy is designed by our Creator only for an equally yoked marriage.  In marriage intimacy helps bind a couple safely together in spiritual unity and children are brought into a safe environment.  Today the enemy is doing all he can to expose those outside of marriage to much danger.  Isaiah 61:10, “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” The final consolation of Elul, The Feast of the Trumpets,   (Isaiah 61:10-63:9) gives us a breathtaking picture: the Bride, radiant and ready, clothed not in her own efforts but in the garments of salvation and the robe of righteousness. This is the joy of the Bride who knows the love of her Bridegroom has covered her. She does not stand ashamed or unprepared, but adorned, beautiful, and confident in His covenant love.  Rev.19:7-8 Also gives us a picture of the Wife…

Yet Isaiah does not stop there. In the very next breath, God appoints watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem (Isaiah 62:6–7) — men and women who will not be silent day or night until Zion is established and made a praise in the earth. This is the dual identity of the Bride in Elul: she is both clothed in intimacy and steadfast in intercession. She prepares herself for her Beloved, and she takes her stand as a prophetic watchman for Israel’s redemption and Jerusalem’s restoration.  This is not an either/or calling — it is both/and. The Bride must be radiant in holiness and relentless in watchfulness. She must walk in intimacy with the Bridegroom and cry out for Zion’s deliverance. She must be ready in her own heart and ready on the wall, declaring and interceding until the King comes in glory.

As the last shofar blasts fade,  hear the call with fresh urgency: be clothed, be radiant, be steadfast. Do not approach this season with half-hearted devotion. Put on the garments of salvation. Adorn yourself with the robe of righteousness. Take your place as a watchman on the walls. Cry out until Jerusalem shines with glory. The Bridegroom is at the altar. The King is in the field. The Spirit and the Bride together cry: “Come.” And soon — very soon — the heavens will answer, and Jesus will return for His Bride when she is ready, Rev.19:7.  Please note here that it is the bride/wife who has made herself ready. It is written that Jesus is actually waiting for the Church/ Body of Christ /Bride/Wife/ Rod of Iron to get ready for HIM.  We need to be about bringing the elect together.

Lust is one of the great temptations of the day.  Especially if you are really trying to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit.  That is a sure threat to the powers of darkness as the powers of darkness are totally blocked when a Christian find out what powers they have been given by Jesus over the darkness.  We often tend to forget that we are on a battle field for our souls and the souls of others.  And we have the right to use the Name and Power of Jesus to win the battle if we will have faith to use it.  We need to gain the victory in the beginning, not half way, speeding down the slide into the sand .  Also we tend to get tempted when lonely or feeling isolated.  A good time to call and talk with a friend.  Our Creator has told us to seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness and leave the “what about me stuff” to HIM.  That He would provide for all of our needs through Christ Jesus.

And as you live, really live for Jesus, you are going to experience a lot of rejection.  We need to realize that the world will reject anyone who puts out a lot of light.  In Matt.25 Jesus tell us to have our lamps on bright.  So if you really go for the Kingdom, those who are into comfort will reject you.
And expect, if you have a calling on your life for ministry, expect a big battle especially if your focus is on being a Jesus Christian and not a Religious Theater Box Christian.  And in all of this, there is the need for self control and discipline. Today we find the Lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and pride of life in just about everything, seeking our attention, sometimes even in a church setting.  1 John 2:15-29 John thought it was the time for the return of Jesus at that time as the spirit of the antichrist was so active.  But today many nations are about to destroy the planet, Matt.24:22 Jesus mentioned that if HE did not come even sooner, that all would die.  We are about to do that today.  Nukes are all armed now for war. Leaders in pride and not concerned about the pain of their people.

Our salvation by making Jesus our LORD (master) is the core faith of our salvation, Rom.10:9-10.  What we do as loving Jesus earns wages for what we do out of love for Him, 1 Cor.3:11-16.  Seems to me we are very close to where Jesus comes to evacuate His Church from the great WRATH of God that is to come down on earth for 7 years due to what was done to Jesus and this world.  You really need to look at the 5 foolish virgins who were at the door for the wedding but got locked out.